10 Top Travel Tips

Download map (Pdf 796Kb)

1.	Road distances South Africa is bigger than you expect - check the distances to your destinations. The general speed limits are: 60km/h in towns and cities; 100km/h on main roads and 120km/h on highways and toll roads. Toll is paid in cash or with credit cards.
2.	Sun We are not called "Sunny South Africa" for nothing. Take care of yourself and make sure that you have the appropriate sun block for your skin.
3.	Electricity The current used in SA is 220 volts. Visitors may also need to buy adapter-plugs for their electrical appliances.
4.	Time difference We are 2 hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time. 1 hour ahead of Brittish Summer Time
5.	Petrol There is no shortage of petrol in South Africa as each town has a variety of fuel stations. Our wash rooms are some of the cleanest in the world. Just keep in mind that they only take cash or petrol card (debit cards accepted at BP fuel stations).
6.	Cell phones All tri-band cell phones should operate here. Check with your service provider.
7.	Gratuities Tipping waiters at restaurants, porters and cleaners at hotels, parking attendants, guides at tourist sites is appreciated and up to 10% is acceptable.
8.	Malaria Kruger National Park and Northern KwaZulu-Natal are malaria areas. Consult your doctor and or pharmacist regarding, at certain times of the year, anti-malaria precautions.
9.	Value Added Tax Refund Keep in mind that you can claim the VAT you paid on goods (curios etc). Keep all your invoices and take them to the Vat Refund office at any of the international airports in South Africa. You will have to show the items purchased, so a separate bag is advisable for these goods
10.	Alcohol Please never drink and drive - it is not safe and laws are strictly enforced. The current blood/alcohol limit is 0.05%

Passport / Visa

•	Passport only needed for stays up to 90 days. No visas required if you are from Canada, USA, England and European Union. Confirm your visa requirements with the South African Embassy in your country of residence
•	Check with your travel agency if you are from any other country and want to visit Swaziland/Lesotho
•	Your passport must have a minimum of 2 blank pages

Health and Insurance

•	It is recommended to take out travel insurance including emergency, medical and related expenses, personal liability insurance, loss of baggage and personal belongings, cancellation insurance and personal accident insurance.
•	Personal health - Advise us of important health issues and allergies so that appropriate care can be taken.
•	South African health services are comparable with the best in the world.

Climate

South Africa is known for its sunny skies and long summers. Humidity levels are generally low. Weather patterns may differ markedly between the various regions - please note below.

Spring:	Summer:	Autumn/Fall:	Winter:
September to October	November to February	March to May	June to August

•	Cape Town and Western Cape: Mediterranean climate with winter rainfall.
•	Johannesburg, Sun City and the Kruger National Park: summer rainfall, winters cold on the Highveld (Johannesburg/Sun City) and mild in the Lowveld (Kruger National Park)
•	Durban, the Battlefields and the Drakensberg Mountains: Summer is subtropical and humid at the coast and mild in the Drakensberg mountains (summer rainfall region); winters mild at the coast and cold in the mountains.

Currency

•	ZAR - South African Rand
•	All major credit and debit cards are readily accepted for payment.
•	Auto banks (ATMs) can be found outside banks and in shopping centres.
•	Bureaux de exchange are available at most banks.
•	Click for Currency Converter

Terms:
1.	Full payment 30 days prior to arrival
2.	No cancellation fees if cancelled 31 days prior to arrival
3.	A 10% cancellation fee if cancelled 8-30 days prior to arrival
4.	A 100% cancellation fee if cancelled 1-7 days prior to arrival date.

*	All bookings are subject to availability by the suppliers as at the time of booking.
*	All prices quoted for packages and services are subject to change due to currency fluctuations, fuel price increases and other government levies and taxes

Safety Issues

Crime is a factor in the bigger cities in South Africa. Take the same precautions as you would in any major city

Guidelines:

It is preferable and usually more enjoyable to walk with company or in groups, especially in the evenings.
Dont carry cash in your purse or pocket.
Be aware of the possibility of bag snatchers and pick-pockets in crowded areas.
Use the safety deposit lock services at the hotel for any valuables you can't carry with you.
Make copies of passport, air ticket, travel docs and keep separately